Mrs. Jennie

Jennie Valentine was 90 years old and was a TINY woman with a huge heart. Her heart was especially big for New Day Orphanage. She prayed for us and the children here every day, especially for sweet Axer who she faithfully sponsored. Last year, the playground at New Day was built in Jennie's honor and was named Jennie's Play Station.
Jennie's dream was to travel to Zambia to meet Axer and to see New Day for herself. Physically, there was no way she could do this, but her son, who we all know as Johnny Boy, has made 4 trips, and others in her family plan to come in the future.
New Day was blessed to have the support and faithful prayers of someone like Jennie, who went to be with Jesus yesterday. She even requested in her last days that memorials be given to the orphanage upon her death. I pray that one day, I will be 90 years old and still passionate for seeing children come to know Christ, just as Jennie was.
We were blessed to be able to attend her 90th birthday party last August!

An old picture of Axer painting the playground. :)

Ladies Retreat - Day 2

Day 2 of the Ladies Retreat included 4 amazing sessions on spiritual warfare in our minds led by Laurie, funny skits, lots of food, and pedicures and pool time! :)

Ladies Retreat - Day 1

The New Day full-time staff ladies are on a staff retreat in Livingstone! Day One consisted of driving to our destination, lunch at Steers, Victoria Falls, shopping, and supper and games at our lodge!

Thanks!

We got an email today from someone willing to sponsor Oscar - thank you!

School Fees for Oscar

Living in a third-world country, we constantly get asked to help people. We have to pray for wisdom and discernment to know who is telling the truth and who we should help, knowing that we can't help everyone.
Last week while in Choma on our weeklyl shopping trip, we met a boy named Oscar. Oscar is about 19 years old and is in the 12th grade. He approached us in our New Day Orphanage bus and asked for school fees to finish out his 12th grade year. He needed $180 to pay for his last 2 terms. He said he was an orphan and asked if we could help him since we were an orphanage. Since we are already paying school fees for so many, we asked him where he attended church. He said he was a member of the Brethren in Christ church, so we suggested that he go to his church to first ask for help. He walked away discouraged, and we wished we could have helped him but knew we couldn't.
The next day at New Day, (45 minutes from Choma), Oscar showed up!!! He apologetically told Blu that he had no one else to help him, so he followed us home! Blu went on to learn more about his situation. Oscar is a double orphan who has been living with one of his school teachers. That teacher has paid for his schooling, but he recently died and there is nobody he can find to pay for his last 2 terms. He has already registered for his 12th grade exams in October and paid all of the fees associated with that, so he just lacks these last 2 terms of school.
Blu told me how he seems very educated and speaks such great English and what a shame it would be for him to get that close and then not be able to finish. That got me to thinking....surely there is a New Day supporter out there (or group) who would be willing to cover $180 for Oscar to finish school! In situations like this, we pay the school directly to ensure that the funds are going towards what Oscar says they are.
If anyone is interested in meeting this need for Oscar Mweemba, please email me at blutidwell@sbcglobal.net. Thanks so much! :)

Happy Birthday to Debbie & Axer!

Happy Birthday to Debbie & Axer! Debbie's birthday is today, and Axer will be 5 tomorrow! We had a fun party celebrating the two of them!
Axer's gorgeous cake made by Mama Lala!

Axer got a slinky, lip gloss, hair stuff, toy jewelry, and a children's Bible (which she requested!)

Teacher Debbie!

Running from the water!

Two birds with one stone.. :)

This is last year's pic of Deb & Axer so you can see how Axer has grown (and Debbie has shrunk!) :)

Baby Darbi x 2

Both of my baby Darbis showed up to Kids Club today! So cute! :)

Friday Night Sleepovers!

During the month of April, we are having different New Day kids come over on Fridays for a sleepover. Though my house is a DISASTER on Saturday mornings, their smiles are worth it! :)
Kelitah and Cambree spent about an hour in the bathtub!

Muchoni & Phillip joined my own 2 superheroes!

April Happenings

Have you ever wondered what goes on at an orphanage with 22 kids when they are all out of school for a month?! :) We have put together an activities schedule to keep the kids (and the staff!) busy! Here's a look at our April!
Mondays:
9am - 10am: Discipleship class for older kids with Mama Lala, Bible class for younger kids with Teacher Carolyn & Teacher Abby
2pm - 3pm: P.E. with Papa Wes and Auntie Michelle
Tuesdays:
9am - 10am: Chores with Uncle Blu, Mama Liz, and Teacher Debbie (cleaning chicken poop, etc.. :)
2pm - 3pm: Movie time at Papa Wes & Mama Lala's house
Wednesdays:
9am - 10am: Discipleship class for older kids with Mama Lala, Bible class for younger kids with Teacher Carolyn & Teacher Abby
2pm - 3pm: Music class with Uncle Blu & BaKalenga
Thursdays:
9am - 10am: Chores with Papa Wes, Mama Liz & Teacher Debbie
4pm - 5pm: Soccer Game with Uncle Blu & Teacher Darbi
Fridays: 9am - 10am: Art class with Mama Lala & Teacher Hildah for older kids, Uncle Mulenga & Teacher Diana for younger kids
2pm - 3pm: Library time with Teacher Darbi & Teacher Diana
When the kids are not doing these scheduled activities, they can usually be found outside of our two orphan houses playing "Pada" (hopscotch), building things out of mud, or watching Veggie Tales in the girls staff house!

Prayers for the Mwaanga Family

I'd like to ask for prayer for our dear friends, Maxwell & Priscilla. Maxwell is the pastor of Mapanza Baptist Church. We have all been eagerly awaiting the arrival of their baby, but tragedy occurred on Monday night when Priscilla gave birth to baby Wilcox, only to have him pass away a few short hours later. This family had previously lost their 3 year old daughter, Chibotu, in 2006 to hydrocephaly. Many in the area will assume that this family is "cursed," and I'm sure many traditional "remedies" will be suggested to them. Please lift them up in prayer as they hold fast to Christ. Please pray for big sister Lwiito and big brother Blu as they try to process the loss of their baby brother. Please pray for wisdom for us at New Day to reach out to this family in their grief.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."